‘Republicans’ destroy potent national symbol

THE Taoiseach again declares his party to be “the republican party” in the wake of the historic announcement by the IRA. What would his republican ancestors think of the Government’s decision to put a motorway through Tara?

When the British Israelites attempted to dig the hill 100 years ago, Arthur Griffith wrote a series of articles in the United Irishman defending Tara from the attack of the “foreigners” and reminded his readers that Tara was “a living reminder of the former glory of an enslaved and half-debased nation”.

Today, it is our own half-debased nation cannibalising its former glory.

Another defender of Tara, WB Yeats prophetically wrote in a poem:

“I have forgot awhile / Tara uprooted, and new commonness / Upon the throne and crying about the streets / And hanging its paper flowers from post to post, / Because it is alone of all things happy.”

What would the men of ’98 have to say? Those who fought and died in the Battle of Tara? Daniel O’Connell? He chose our ancient capital as the venue for a monster meeting. They must be turning in their graves.

Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin

Save the TaraSkryne Valley Group

58 Laurence Avenue

Maynooth

Co Kildare